January 14th, 2020 marks the end of support for both Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008. This means that Microsoft will stop updating these operating systems’ security features. For years now, Microsoft hasn’t been adding new features to Windows 7, but has continued providing security updates for it. When security updates stop for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008, it will begin to be unsafe to use them.
Security updates for an operating system focus on changing or fixing newly arising loopholes in security protocols. Immediately after the operating system becomes unsupported, continuing to use such operating system begins to be considerably risky. Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 still function unsupported, but using them with internet connection will be a security threat.
Can I keep the same computer(s)?
The option that initially seems the most appealing is upgrading the existing hardware to Windows 10. While this might seem the most cost-effective, there are a few things to consider. Below are the minimum system requirements for Windows 10.
windows-10-system-requirements
- Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster processor
- RAM: 1 gigabyte (GB) for 32-bit or 2 GB for 64-bit
- Hard disk space: 16 GB for 32-bit OS or 20 GB for 64-bit OS
- Graphics card: DirectX 9 or later with WDDM 1.0 driver
- Display: 800 x 600
Most systems these days will meet these requirements, but there is another factor to keep in mind. It’s been 4 years since new computers came with Windows 7, so machines still using it are at least 4 years old. The typical lifespan of a computer is between 3 and 5 years. Meaning that most Windows 7 computers are already approaching the age when they’ll start having issues regardless of their OS.
To combat slow-down without replacing the computer, it’s possible to replace certain hardware components within the machine. For most machines the processor or RAM are the culprits of slowness or improper function. The hard disk, graphics card (if present) or motherboard can be replaced as well, but it’s unnecessary in most cases.
RAM is usually the easiest to replace, typically only involving a simple swap. Replacing the processor is a more delicate procedure that usually requires replacing the motherboard and RAM too. The cost of parts and time required to upgrade computer hardware might be only slightly less than what’s required to setup a new computer. Upgrading hardware in a computer only has the potential to improve performance. Whereas replacing the whole computer is sure to resolve most or all issues.
What Do I Do Moving Forward?
The best thing to do when considering replacing one or multiple computers is to work with your IT support. They can assist you in determining what hardware suits the purpose of the machine while keeping in mind the desired life-cycle duration of the computer. Your IT support can also help decide if it makes sense to perform any in-place upgrades and what hardware would need to be upgraded in that case.
